Binder



y 1934- s. HERMAN 1,957,959

BiNDER I I Fild July 12. 1929 MAM MW %e uV/fi/Si Patented May 8; 1934 UNITED STATES BINDER Sam Herman, Chicago, Ill. Application July- 12, 1929, Serial No. 377,710

l 3 Claims. (01. 129-12 ished, and which may be secured to the perma- The present invention relates to loose leaf binders and is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved form of binder having resilient binding posts.

B I amaware that helical springs have been employed in the loose leaf binders ofthe prior art, but one of the inherent defects of such binders has been the tendency for the back of the book to break or curve whenever a book having a substantial number of leaves is laid open.

If the spring posts are made stiffer for the purpose of eliminating this difficulty, the ad-. vantages of a resilient binding post are wholly lost, and in any event there is a tendency for the sheets to become caught between the turns of-the spring post when the post bends laterally.

Any curving of the back of the book is accompanied by a corresponding curvature of the binding posts and by the separation of the spring 20 coils on the side from which the coils are bent,

so that the leaves become pinched and torn be-' tween the coils. This defect is particularly evident in volumes of substantial thickness such as are used in any commercial bookkeeping system, as the larger volumes, when constructed according to the prior art, tend to become so loose that the back breaks into a curve and the sheets can be slid upon each other, deforming the book and causing tearing of the sheets.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a resilient loose leaf binder having all the advantages of a resilient binder, but in which the disadvantages of the prior binders have been eliminated by a simple and economical structure.

Another object is the provision of a loose leaf binder in which the leaves are adapted to lie fiat in any open position and in which the leaves are firmly but removably secured in such manner that they cannot be damaged by the handling of the volume. I

Another object of the invention is the provision of a loose leaf binder including a simple and economical structure which is cheaply manufactured and which cannot get out of order;

Another object of the invention is the provision of a loose leaf binder having a sectional resilient binding post which is provided with a resilient connection between-sections and which includes a stifiening member for preventing deformation of the volume or breaking of its back.

' Another object of the invention is the provision of a binder of the class described which is adaptable for use with a master cover or with to register with the apertures 20 in the base 16.

permanent covers when a volume has been finnent covers in such manner that the removal of sheets by unauthorized persons is prevented.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawing in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the single sheet of drawing:

Fig. l is a view in perspective of my improved binder with a master cover;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1', looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on theline 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 91 is a sectional view of a finished volume, showing the permanent mode of assembly of my binder; I

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view -of ,a section of my binding post and reinforcing member taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 to illustrate the curvature in the reinforcing member.

Referring to Fig. 1, .10 indicates my loose leaf binder in its entirety, the binder preferably in-v cluding a pair of leaf securing members or covers 11 and 12 and one or more binding posts 13. Many of the advantages of the invention may be realized without utilizing complete covers and I desire it to be understood that. my binding post may be used with any of the conventional covers now on the market. 1

The covers 11 and 12 illustrated, include a relatively stifi metal base which may be constructed of a tubular member 14 as shown in Fig. 3, and a stifi cover member constructed of wood, fiber board or other relatively 'stifi'material covered with fabric or some other protective material. The fabric which covers the base 14 and the other parts of the cover may also serve as a pivotal connection between the base and themovable portion of the cover as at 15. 1

Referring to Fig. 2, I have'here illustrated my loose leaf binder ncluding a master cover 12 of conventional form, and I desire it'to" be understood that any of the moderntypes of mastercovers adapted for this purpose, may be used, The v master cover 12, includes a tubular metal base 16 which is covered with fabric 17 and in which .is mounted a slider 18 having apertures 19 adapted The slider 18 may be moved back and forth by a screw 21 attached to the slider by any operative mechanical, connection and threaded in a sleeve 22 secured in thetubular member 16. It will be evident that the slider 18 may be moved to the left or right in Fig. 2 by applying an appropriate key to the screw 21 and the master cover 12 may be clamped on binding posts 13 in any convenient position.

The resilient binding posts 13 are preferably constructed of a plurality of sections of relatively stiff helical coil springs 23, 24 and 25 adapted to give longitudinally and to resiliently clamp the sheets or leaves secured between the covers 11 and 12. The sections 23, 24 and 25 may be removably secured together by providing similar short sections of con springs 26 and 27 of a smaller diameter than the coil springs 23 to 25 and adapted to be threaded into the coil springs 23 to 25.

The coil springs 26 and 2'? are of such size that the helical ridge formed by the spring wire fits 'in the interstices between the coils of the springs 23 to 25 and all of the springs are constructed with the same pitch.

It will thus be observed that as it is desired to increase the length of the binding posts 13, it is only necessary to thread in a short section of the small coil spring 26 or 27 and thread on another section of the larger springs 23 to 25 to make the binding posts of any length desired. It is also possible to utilize extremely short pieces of spring so that very little waste occurs when the binding posts are constructed according to the present invention.

The binding posts 13 may be secured to the covor 11 by screws if desired, but I prefer to employ a nail 28 or other simple headed member of such size that the nail may be driven into the coil spring 26, tensioning the coil spring against the cylindrical surface of the nail and securing the nail therein by frictional engagement of the coils with the nail. The nail is provided with a pointed end 29 so that it may force the coil springs apart as it is driven in, and the head 30 is preferably fiat and curved to provide a thin edge 31 so that there are substantially no projections on the outside of the cover. The tubular member 14 may then 1 be provided with an aperture 32 on its inside, of

sufficient size to receive the binding post 13, but the aperture 33 on the outside of the tubular member 14 is merely of sufficient size to receive the headed member 28 and the outer wall of the tubular member 14 may be permanently confined between the head 30 of the nail and the coil springs 25 and 26.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, it will be observed that the nail 28 is provided with a plurality of transverse lines. presence of the usual transverse barbs or ridges that are present upon ordinary roofing nails and which are formed upon the roofing nail by' the gripping machinery when the head is formed upon the nail.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be observed that while the master cover 12 is employed, the binding posts 13 are permitted to project above the cover and additional sections are added as needed, but When the volume has reached the size desired, it may be permanently bound as shown in Fig. 4,

by providing a second cover 11 having a similartubular base 1% secured to the binding post 13 by a similar nail 28. As the structure of the not be repeated in detail, but will be evident from Fig. 4.

It will thus be observed that when my permanent binder has been applied to the sheets or leaves 34, the volume is practically tamper proof and the sheets cannot be removed by unauthor- These transverse lines show the ized persons. The resilient spring sections 23 to 27 are preferably constructed of stiff spring steel so that the binding posts comprise relatively strong springs, the outer sections of which are reinforced by means of the inner sections which connect the portions of the binding posts together, and it is practically impossible for anyone to remove the nails 28 without leaving evidence that someone has tampered with the book.

One of the most important features of my invention consists in the provision'of a stiffening member 35 which is adapted to prevent the breaking or curving of the back of the book and also to prevent the relatively loose sliding movement of the sheets upon each other so as to deform the book. The results of the inclusion of my stiffening member in a binder having a resilient binding post, are readily noticeable, as the volumes retain their form, and although the leaves can be opened to lie flat in any open position, the back of the volume does not break and there is no tendency for the leaves to become torn between the coils of the spring.

The stiffening member 35 may comprise a relatively flexible strip of fiber of sufficient width and thickness to impart the stiffening to the binding posts 13 when inserted as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The fiber strip 35 is inserted between the binding posts 13 and the edges of the apertures formed in the leaves 34. The apertures 36 formed in leaves 34' are round apertures, conforming substantially to the spring binding posts 13 with sufficient tolerance to receive the strip 35. with slits leading from the apertures in the conventlonal manner to permit removal of the leaves- The leaves may be provided 35 is preferably inserted at the back of the binding post in order to prevent the leaves from being drawn against the spring at that point.

As the aperture or bore formed by the leaves 34 is substantially cylindrical, and as the binding posts 13 are substantially cylindrical, the reinforcing member 35 conforms to the shape of the binding post and aperture 36, forming a curved and slightly trough shaped member which is adapted to stiffen the binder, although the strip itself is flexible when not associated with the binder.

The strip 35 may be ordinarily furnished in the form of longer strips cut to lengths as re-= quired for use in the binder 10 and the amount of stiffening imparted to the binding post 13 may be varied by the width of the strips 35. A strip of considerable width covering a considerable portion of the area of the binding post will be considerably stiffer than a strip which merely covers a small portion of the back of the post.

It will thus be observed that I have invented a novel binder which is adapted to be used with loose leaves and to permanently bind the volumes in such manner that the leaves cannot be removed by unauthorized persons when the volumes have been finished. My binder is also adapted to permit the leaves to lie flat in any open position, but by means of my reinforcing member, the volume is retained in proper shape as distinguished from the relatively loose constructions of the prior art.

' My binder includes sectional binding posts so that the volume may be permanently bound whenever desired, without the necessity of cutting off any binding posts, by simply providing a section of appropriate length to finish the book, and the binding posts employed may be constructed without waste since it is contemplated that a plurality of small sections of varying width be employed.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a binder, the combination of a plurality of leaves with a resilient binding post comprising a helical coil spring, a cover, a nail driven into said spring to secure said spring to said cover and a stifiening member comprising a strip inserted between said leaves and said post and conforming to the curvature of said post.

2. A binder comprising a pair of covers, a re silient binding post adapted to be secured to said covers, a nail driven into said resilient binding post to secure said post to one of said covers and a stifiening member located adjacent said binding post and adapted to be retained in position. I by the engagement of leaves within said binder.

3. A binder comprising a pair of covers, a resilient binding post adapted to be secured to said covers, and a stiffening member located adjacent said binding post and adapted to be retained in position by the engagement of leaves within said binder, said stifiening member comprising a strip of fibre inserted between said post and the leaves and conforming to the shape of the aperture in said leaves.

4. A sectional binding post for loose leaf binders and the like comprising a helical coil spring, a removable. section comprising a similar coil spring, and connecting means comprising a coil spring of smaller diameter adapted to be threaded into said first-mentioned coil springs to secure the same together.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a leaf-retaining member having a sectional binding post, comprising a helical coil spring, a removable section comprising a similar coil spring, connecting means comprising a coil spring of smaller diameter adapted .to be threaded into said first mentioned coil springs to secure the same together, and a headed metal member driven into one of said springs and held by frictional engagement therewith to secure said binding post to said leaf-retaining member.

6. A sectional binding post for loose leaf binders and the like comprising a helical coil spring, a removable section comprising a similar coil spring, connecting means comprising a coil spring of smaller diameter'adapted to be threaded into said first mentioned coil springs to secure the same together, and a stifiening member comprising a flexible strip adapted to be confined between said binding post and leaves carried thereby.

'7. In a binder, the combination of a cover with a resilient helical spring, a headed member driven into said spring and secured by frictional engagement therewith to secure said spring to said cover, a removable section of similar spring and a connecting section comprising a larger spring 

